Was wondering if any of you lads could help me. I'm currently getting it in the ear from a bootie about how fecking great the RM are, and how they weren't allowed into Germany during the Cold War, because the presence of shock troops in der Fatherland meant that war would immediately kick off.

This is bollocks, isn't it? I thought the RM were assigned to Scandinavia? Before my time, I'm afraid.

Please help me shut him up, he's doing my head in. Point some proof my way, or me in the direction of some proof, please.

There were RM instructors at the ILLRP School in Weingarten during my time - '84 >87.
They did mention the same opinion as per the thread title, however they did add that there was a small det of SBS in Rheindhalen during the 1950's. Over to the historians......

Was wondering if any of you lads could help me. I'm currently getting it in the ear from a bootie about how fecking great the RM are, and how they weren't allowed into Germany during the Cold War, because the presence of shock troops in der Fatherland meant that war would immediately kick off.

This is balls, isn't it? I thought the RM were assigned to Scandinavia? Before my time, I'm afraid.

Please help me shut him up, he's doing my head in. Point some proof my way, or me in the direction of some proof, please.

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I would suggest you shout your poster name next time he starts off.

The Royal Marines were assigend to protect the flanks of NATO. In particular Norway, but also possible Turkey had the Russians gone south.

The reason they werenÂ´t brought out to Germany was because their skills in Arctic fighting would be wasted, and they might as well have stood their ground naked with roll matts. Their organisation, weaponry and vehicles would not have been much use in a Armoured battle.

If the Marines are "shock" troops then surely the Paras are too. Ask him to explain his believes when a Bn of Paras were based in Osnabruck for a few years in the 80s (IIIRC). They were tasked and equiped as for AI at teh time.

Likewise, what would cause a kick off more? A Commando being (shock horror) baseed in Germany or the 3 (IIRC) Royal Artillery Regiments cutting about with Nuclear weapons?

Or maybe the SAS, who used to conduct exercises in BAOR? Mentioned in one of the SAS book as being cancelled for the Falklands. Not to mention the presence of many Marines at the LRRP school in Germany.

Tell your Marine buddy, he is talking out of his hoop. All for pride in onse unit, but keep it real.